Operation Puerto finally set for court

.Spain's long-running Operation Puerto doping saga will finally see the inside of a courtroom in January, nearly seven years after the case started.

Madrid – Spain's long-running Operation Puerto doping saga will finally see the inside of a courtroom in January, nearly seven years after the case started.

Sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, former Liberty Seguros team boss Manolo Saiz and four others arrested in 2006 on suspicion of providing doping services to cyclists will be tried in Madrid's Superior Court from January 28 to March 22. They face charges which could lead to prison sentences of up to two years.

The six accused were arrested in May 2006 after Spanish police raided homes and clinics in Madrid and Zaragoza to uncover bags of blood, blood transfusion equipment and anabolic steroids.

Fifty cyclists were implicated, including Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso. Contador and Basso are among 35 people called to testify as witnesses. – Sapa-AP

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